Maxwell eyes India tour for Test comeback

December 01, 2016

Sydney: Swashbuckling middle-order batsman Glenn Maxwell is eyeing the upcoming tour of India early next year to make his comeback to the Australian Test side after being sidelined for most of the current cricket season.

Maxwell, who was named Australia’s One-day International (ODI) Player of the Year at the Allan Border medal ceremony in January this year, lost his place in the ODI side on the tour of West Indies in June and then his place in the squad for the series in Sri Lanka in September.

The 28-year-old ,however, struck a brilliant unbeaten 145 in the first T20I match against Sri Lanka during Australia’s tour in September.

To curb his instincts of starting an innings vulnerably and throwing his wicket early, Maxwell said he has worked on some of the technical and mental aspects of his game.

The right-hander, who has played just three Tests since making his debut against India in Hyderabad in 2013, could also come in handy with his off-spin bowling if he gets the nod for the upcoming India tour.

“I’m looking more to the India series now having missed the boat for this Australian home summer, with the way that selections have gone,” he was quoted as saying by espncricinfo.

“Whether that comes from white-ball cricket or any sort of cricket I’m playing, whether they come down and watch me at Fitzroy-Doncaster and see how I’m going in club cricket it doesn’t matter.”

“To not get picked was a little bit disappointing. But as I said there are plenty of Tests on the radar. They’ve made it quite clear the direction they’re going to try and go,” he added.

The Kangaroos will tour India for a four-match Test rubber early next year, with the first game starting in Pune on February 23.-Agency